Black Shining Leather

Carpathian Forest is a Norwegian black metal band that was founded in 1990 (originally under the name Enthrone) by vocalist/bassist Roger “Nattefrost” Rasmussen and guitarist Johnny “Nordavind” Krøvel. While the band was active during the early years of the infamous Norwegian black metal scene, they are perhaps less well-known today than some of their more notorious contemporaries in the extremely popular bands Mayhem, Emperor, and Darkthrone. One possible explanation for the band’s relative unpopularity is the band’s rather low creative output over the years. While the band released their classic EP, Through Chasm, Caves, and Titan Woods, in 1995, it would not be until 1998, a full 8 years after the band’s formation, that the band finally released their debut full-length. This trend of unproductivity continues to this day. While the band remains active as of 2014, their most recent album was released in 2006. The second reason that might explain why Carpathian Forest has not become as popular as many of their contemporaries is the fact that the music they released after their landmark EP was simply nothing special. While the music performed on Through Chasm, Caves, and Titan Woods was excellent, lo-fi black metal that relied heavily on dark atmosphere, the band’s later work started to incorporate thrash and punk elements into their music and add black humor elements to their lyrics. While this shift in style could have been a refreshing break from the ordinary, the ensuing music found on the band’s full-lengths unfortunately ended up being forgettable at best and downright bad at worst.

Carpathian Forest’s 1998 debut, Black Shining Leather, unfortunately stands as an example of one of their worse albums. While the music presented on the album is still pure black metal without any thrash influences, its relatively long running time, mostly uninspired songwriting, and lack of diversity combine to make a very poor album that has almost zero replay value. While there are some standout tracks, the best being “The Swordsman” and “Death Triumphant”, most of the songs included on the album sound very similar and have the effect of blending together. The album’s second half is particularly difficult to listen to, and the inclusion of two rather boring tracks towards the end of the album that clock in at over six minutes each do not make it any easier. The first of the two, “Lunar Nights”, actually concludes with an interesting and rather powerful segment, but the bland first half of the track unfortunately greatly reduces the impact of this strong conclusion. Further adding to the album’s weak points, the band also finds it necessary to include an absolutely pointless ambient/spoken word interlude titled “Lupus” in the middle of the album. The track was obviously intended to create an eerie mood to usher in the second half of the album, but instead it has the effect of interrupting the flow of the album and distracting the listener from the comparatively good tracks that precede it.

As the album’s title implies, Black Shining Leather is the first of many Carpathian Forest albums to include lyrics based primarily on sadomasochism and violence, as opposed to the nature-themed lyrics that dominated the band’s early work. While this lyrical focus is perhaps a bit more original than the typical genre focus on ice, Satan, and the woods, the sexual themes get old surprisingly quick. While the band members are clearly enjoying themselves and having fun on the album, with Nattefrost regularly shouting out obscenities and “rock and roll!” in the middle of songs, the stale songwriting present on most tracks prevents the listener from really getting in on the fun. Musically, while on the whole the album’s songwriting demonstrates a focus on rather formulaic black metal song structure, there is one unconventional aspect of the music that makes the album stand out a bit in its own right. The bass guitar is strangely prevalent in the album’s mix. This was a rarity in 1990’s black metal, to say the least. The reason for the emphasis on bass guitar is unknown, as the bass riffs are really nothing special (without exception, they mirror the guitar work). In addition to this, all of Carpathian Forest’s later albums would go on to take the more conventional black metal approach to bass by burying the instrument in the mix beneath the guitars. While the prevalence of bass on Black Shining Leather is interesting, at the end of the day it contributes nothing of real value to the album.

There are some positive aspects of the album that must be noted. Nattefrost really is a fantastic black metal vocalist, and his performance on Black Shining Leather is no exception. He is one of the few vocalists in black metal capable of delivering a raw and raspy performance that remains surprisingly easy to understand. Other highlights of the album include an impressive guitar solo performed by Nordavind that is featured on the album’s opener and title track, and the symphonic elements, added through the use of keyboards, that are featured on certain songs. The most effective use of these symphonic elements is demonstrated on the already-mentioned tracks “The Swordsman” and “Death Triumphant”. The latter is by far the best track on the album, consisting of two distinct parts that are equal in their brilliance. The first part is based around a fast-paced riff that is uncharacteristically original and surprisingly catchy, while the second half is based on a slower riff with strong symphonic backing, giving the song an epic and powerful feel. While it is important to note that these positive elements do not make Black Shining Leather a good album, they do save it from being a total disaster.

In the end, Black Shining Leather stands as a poor album that fails to make any positive lasting impression on the listener. While a couple of good tracks are included on the record and the band is clearly enjoying themselves, the album’s uninspired songwriting and terrible second half really make Black Shining Leather not worth a listen. “The Swordsman” stands as the only really brilliant piece featured on the album, and is the only track worth checking out. Through Chasm, Caves, and Titan Woods remains Carpathian Forest’s only essential release, although the band’s second full-length, 2000’s Strange Old Brew does deserve an honorable mention for being a noted improvement over Black Shining Leather. While it’s not a fantastic record by any means, it does feature some good tracks and has a much more thrash-influenced sound. Listeners looking for quality Norwegian black metal are encouraged to either give Through Chasm, Caves, and Titan Woods a listen or skip this band altogether.

From the moment I heard about this band, a long, long time ago, I knew they wouldn't be all they were cracked up to be. Their sound is pretty much the same as Satryicon's middle albums. Pretty raw, but with that old heavy metal/hard rock sound. Satyricon actually did it fairly well ... someone should have slapped these guys on the wrists, and said "No, no - you suck at that." For not only is the music as simple and repetitive as possible, but the most of the time, it's not even worthy of nodding your head to like Satyricon or newer Immortal. Geez, at least those guys sound angry. How can people say this is angry? I've heard more lividity come from a pre-school playground. Okay ... well, from a punk band.

Which brings me to another point - some of these songs sound like punk songs gone terribly wrong. (Not that a punk song could really be right to begin with) The vocals are just so wussy and crackle in that way ... it's annoying, and, well ... pretty stupid.

The first track contains a section, where the bass pulls out in front, and you can clearly hear it's steely one note sleep inducing strumming. At any given point in the music, the bass will do this; jump out in front, spontaneously, and actually be louder than the guitar.

Not that it matters to most people, but just so that the truth is told - there is absolutely nothing special about the lyrics. I was writing more thoughtful stuff when I was thirteen, and if you think it's any token to their credit that they're "straightforward", consider this: you say what's on your mind, and that's what these "lyrics" are. There's nothing special about making lyrics that are straightforward. Literally, anyone, can do it.

Whoever does write the lyrics, needs to start trying to fit the words into the music. Sometimes the vocals will be going, with words spilling over the edge of the riffs.

The track The Northern Hemisphere starts with a rather boring acoustic passage, and a clip of an old man groaning. Now, my guess is that it was to create the sound of utter anguish - well, they got that sound: the sound of anguish put forth from a 112 year old man having a rough time with a turd. It's not all that obtrusive, but it bothered me.

The reasons I'm giving this points:
1. The ambient track Lupus and sections of ambient here and there, are actually cool and very dark sounding.

2. The track In Silence I Observe, a good, yet still very straightforward black metal track, the keyboardist finally made some noticeable contribution to the music. It's well structured, runs smoothly from riff to riff, and you can actually nod your head to it.

3. The rest of The Northern Hemisphere is a good, more mellow track - despite dragging out too long.

4. The production is very keen for black metal, and it really helps. Because it's not ridiculously shitty (Immortal in their death metal days, or Darkthrone's Goatlord), or over polished (Dimmu Borgir's Stormblast) ...

No points for: Everything else.

Points taken off for: Everything listened above.

That's it. There's nothing special here. Just ignore this CD ...

There are albums which simply blow you away.
No matter how deep you dig into "serious" reasons (musicianship, songwriting, production quality, etc.) to explain such a reaction, these albums hold an unknown something which makes them unique to your ears.
"Black Shining Leather" is one of those albums to me.

Carpathian Forest's first official full length is the missing link between the band's "naturalistic" early days and the "black'n'roll" style which would later become their trademark; it is, anyway, something completely different from your usual Norwegian Black Metal offerings, as Carpathian Forest's usual.
The first big difference lies in the lyrics. No "hail Satan, fuck Christianity" to be found here at all, nor "frozen landscape poetry" as in the band's earlier career: "Black Shining Leather" is packed with bitter verses about misanthropy, suicide, sadomasochism, violence, emptiness and the genral cruel nonsense of everyday life. Another standout factor is the quality of such lyrics: straightforward and almost brutally explicit, yet apparently well thought and skillfully crafted. There are occasional references to the great Northern landscapes (mostly comprised in the beautiful ballad "The Northern Hemisphere"), but the personal approach of the band to their lyrics is unmistakeable.

And then comes the music. First, it is worth mentioning that the whole album has been crafted by the band's original members, R. Nattefrost and J. Nordavind, with the help of just a session member, none less than Lars Nedland aka Lazarus of Solefald and Borknagar, who is responsible for the drums on this album.
The music on "Black Shining Leather" varies from full blasting assaults such as the title track and "Pierce Genitalia" to more groovy and headbanging numbers like "Sadomasochistic" and "Third Attempt", and has also very dark moments like "Death Triumphant" and the ambient-like interlude "Lupus". Carpathian Forest know how to keep the listener's interest high troughout their releases, and this record simply oozes creativity and variation. Let's take an example: "The Swordsmen" begins with a very groovy, percussion-driven intro, then evolves into a up-tempoed verse with some great double bass in the background, and then... just when you expect the song to finish, everything fades out and keyboards (of which you didn't even suspect the existence) come in, painting a bleak and sorrowful musical landscape. You expect the others to join back in for a slow, melancholic finale... and the others join back in, but for a BLASTING grand finale, which even has a room for a nice guitar solo. You won't get bored easily with this.

The songwriting is very good, and such clever arrangements make the variety of the compositions even stronger. The guitars have a nice drive but are never overdistorted and muddy, and Nattefrost's vocals are much clearer than your usual lack Metal shrieks. The bass is very prominent and is often used as a melodic complement, which adds depth to the already well crafted melodic shifts, and adds further drive to the tighter and faster sections. the drums have a very peculiar sound, almost tribal at points, very raw and natural; some might dislike this but I prefer Carpathian Forest's choice to the overtriggered trend we get so often nowadays. The finishing touch is given by subtle synths which appear here and there, and some very well done acoustic passages: the closing track, the slow, epic and emotional "The Northern Hemisphere", is entirely built on an acoustic melody which is played throughout the whole song, while the other instruments simply follow the original pattern, adding a new atmosphere.
There's even an amazing cover version of The Cure's "A Forest" to be found on the digipack version. If you think such a different musical style is out of place here, think again: Carpathian Forest take all the more gloomy and mysterious traits of the original song and multiply them by their unique approach, replacing Robert Smith's shrill vocals with some haunting whispers and creating an unique ambiency using echoing clean guitars and the by now usual eerie synths.

It's not an easy task to describe what an unique atmosphere this album provides. If you want a hint from me, check it out by yourself, you will hardly be disappointed. Just be aware that this album takes a while to be fully appreciated, and grows on you with each listen. It's well worth your effort anyway.